Arkansas senators respond to gun control bill failure

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The gun control debate seems to be losing steam in Washington as a number of bills in congress fail to gain support. This week Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor voted against a measure that would expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales.

"I think that there was some vagueness in the legislation that was going to be subject to interpretation, and I thought some of it was not very clear," explained Pryor.

"If you commit a crime with a firearm, then we need to go after you and use the full extent of the law, and we need to make it easier to give the sentences that those people deserve," said Boozman.

Senator Pryor caught heat on social media after the vote but said his vote has nothing to do with red or blue.

"You got to actually look at the merits of the policy and make a good decision for what's best for the country or state. Being an Arkansas democrat is different than being a national democrat," says Pryor.

Pryor did vote for an alternative gun control measure by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
"Because it dealt with real issues, mental health, school safety, gun trafficking and really took care of some gaps we have in the current system," said Pryor.

Grassley's bill also failed in the Senate. Senator Boozman told THV 11 he would support legislation to give prosecutors more tools to crack down on gun crimes and especially those committed with hand guns.